Sunday, December 21

DENVER -- It's hard to fathom that long ago, 2025 was planned upon as a year for a Rockies turnaround.

That plan was already threatened in 2023 when Tommy John surgeries halted the careers of pitchers in both the Major Leagues (Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela) and Minor Leagues (McCade Brown, Gabriel Hughes, Jackson Cox and Jordy Vargas, among others). High picks such as one-time All-Star outfielder David Dahl and one-time Gold Glove second baseman Brendan Rodgers didn't become mainstays.

Still, the Rockies thought they could take tiny steps forward this year.

But the effort to rehab the back of designated hitter Kris Bryant didn't work (and there is no return in sight), second baseman and free-agent signee Thairo Estrada sustained a right wrist fracture during Spring Training and missed the first 56 games, and the team's most talented player, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, missed most of the first half with injuries to his left hip and left oblique.

Change became strategy, with hitting coach Hensley Meulens replaced in April and manager Bud Black being let go in May. Interim manager Warren Schaeffer has handled the roster with a developmental approach -- appropriate, given the roster, but pains that come with teaching are constant.

Two things remained unchanged -- the frequency of the losses (22-74, tied with the 1904 Washington Senators for the fourth-worst record in the Modern Era, three games better than the mark of the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics) and the constant swirl of inexperienced players into and out of all corners of the roster.

There were signs in June that the Rockies were moving closer to competitiveness, but that has been undone this month. Dropping two of three at home against the White Sox, who were a Modern Era-worst 41-121 last year, was a gut punch.

The result is a synchronized storm of shortcomings from an unsure roster that Schaeffer is trying to turn into one that plays expecting to win -- and doing what it takes to do so.

“I think just moving forward, in general, it's the way we play the game,” Schaeffer said in Cincinnati during the final first-half series. “Play with confidence. Play with freedom. I think you’re seeing a little lack of confidence, lack of presence in the box with runners on third with less than two outs -- runners in scoring position, in general.

“But I think collectively as a group, we will get better at that. We had a good month of June with it. In July, it hasn’t been so hot. That’s one thing I look forward to us getting better at, is offensively when we get into good situations, getting the job done.”

There have been no issues with the work rate. After some humbling blowouts early, the Rockies have had a chance late in the majority of their games. Focusing on the process makes sense. But even with many young players, constant losing comes at the risk of dampening enthusiasm and lessening confidence.

Second-half goal: Just win, sometime
There are the logical goals -- making incremental progress with fundamentals, getting on the same page after big changes and more to come, integrating younger players into the Major Leagues. But all of this becomes much easier if the Rockies win some games. There comes a time when all the losing drowns out all hard lessons in the world. Being 22-74 at midseason with no series wins at home will stress any building program.

Trade Deadline strategy: Sell, seller, sell
This is where things get difficult, since there is temptation to hope to avoid injury and try to prop up the record. But there are arguments to deal starting pitchers Márquez and Austin Gomber, experienced relievers Jake Bird and Tyler Kinley, third baseman Ryan McMahon, outfielder Mickey Moniak and Estrada. The right deals could help now, and must make the future brighter.

Key player: SS Ezequiel Tovar
Last year finished happily, with Tovar winning his first Gold Glove and looking every bit the team's leader. But two injuries reduced his effectiveness or prevented him from participating in a bitter first half. With the possibility of massive change on the roster, it'll be up to Tovar to establish how he will lead the next chapter of Rockies baseball -- on the field and off.

Prospect to watch: 3B Kyle Karros
Should the Rockies deal their longest-tenured position player, McMahon, they will have to determine if Karros -- showing advanced savvy at Double-A Hartford -- is ready. Karros, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the club's No. 18 prospect, has shown the potential for solid at-bats, good defense and effective baserunning. Karros tops the list of prospects who have not debuted, but right-hander Chase Dollander and outfielder Zac Veen -- who have been sent back to Triple-A Albuquerque -- will have a chance to show their wares again.

Games remaining: 66 (Home, 35; Away, 31)

Remaining strength of schedule: .517, 2nd in MLB to the Reds’ .522.

Key series

• July 18-23: A six-game homestand -- three against the Twins and three against the Cardinals. The Rockies didn't win a single home series in the first half, so they need momentum.

• July 28-30: Three-game series at Cleveland -- the final three contests before the Trade Deadline.

• Sept 23-28: A six-game road trip to Seattle and San Francisco to finish the season. The Rockies could have the eyes of the baseball world cast their way if they are threatening the 2024 White Sox for the worst record in the Modern Era.

The Rockies are expected to activate Tovar from his second stint on the injured list when play resumes on Friday against the Twins. 

Tovar has missed the last 36 games with a left oblique strain, after missing 27 in April and May with a left hip contusion. Tovar returns with a .258/.301/.406 slash line in 32 games, much of that because he sustained the hip injury in the season’s second game and kept playing for more than two weeks. In the 16 games between injuries, Tovar slashed .306/.348/.516. 

But during a season when little has gone right for the Rockies, here is another case. He and Estrada, signed as a free agent to be his middle-infield partner, played together just three times and have been active at the same time for four, as Estrada has dealt with hand/wrist injuries, starting with a fractured right wrist sustained during Spring Training. 

To activate Tovar, the Rockies expect to place Estrada on the 10-day IL, retroactive to last Friday with a left thumb injury that he sustained sliding into third base during a game before the All-Star break. 

Select Minor League games are available on MLB.com for free without a subscription, and a Double-A Eastern League game being billed as a prospect showdown is available tonight -- Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr. (ranked by MLB Pipeline as New York’s No. 1 prospect and No. 34 overall) leads Somerset against Charlie Condon (Colorado’s top prospect and No. 22 in MLB) in Hartford. 

Condon missed much of the first half with a fractured left wrist, which occurred during the first Minor League game of Spring Training. After recovering, Condon hit .312 with three home runs and six doubles for High-A Spokane, and he is batting .258 with two doubles and eight RBIs in his first nine games with Hartford. 

“I’m getting settled with a new group that I spent some time with last year in High-A,” Condon said. “We’ve got a good, talented group, a good staff and a good lineup. I’m getting settled in a new group, but it’s the same game.”  

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